SCRAPBOOK OF WEDDING MEMORIES

Remembering those magic moments when butterflies in stomach created a tornado, the hearts exchanged in the form of garlands and memories of which will stay as long as we do.

Ruhi was watching all the preparations as they were taking place. She was visiting her ancestral house to attend a wedding ceremony of her aunt. She saw the house is decorated and all the hustle-bustle of friends and relatives. The extra pampering and love showered on the bride. Innocent that she was, she thought what great fun it would be to be a bride. So many presents, jewellery, so much pampering and everybody at your disposal. Aunt would be so happy to get married. Lost in her thoughts little did she realise that her mom was calling out to her for lunch. Her mom, Nisha asked her “What happened cupcake, where were you lost?”  When she asked her mom “Mummy, Aunt Naina would be so happy na” To which Nisha replied “Yes dear, she would be. Your to-be uncle is a wonderful guy, loves her a lot, has a great family too Naina would be indeed very happy. But why such a strange question?” Ruhi said “No, mummy, not that, all this attention, pampering and all do every girl feel happy? What does she feel when she gets married? Mummy, what did you feel when you got married to Daddy?”

Nisha laughingly asked, “What did I feel?” “Please, mummy tell na “requested Ruhi lovingly.

“Well then,” said Nisha “It was a matter of 3 or 4 days till the big day and all the hullabaloo of marriage had started. And everybody was very happy and excited as I being the eldest was the first one to get married. Enthusiasm was at its peak. Yes, I was happy but I was also sad. I was anxious too. And I was confused as hell.”  “Mummy why were you confused?” asked Ruhi “Were you having second thoughts about Daddy?” Nisha laughed out loud and said “No darling, I had no second thoughts about Daddy but just 3 days before marriage it dawns on me Oh My God am I seriously ready! That night at dinner time I realised that was my last meal with your grandparents before marriage and then nothing will ever be the same and I just couldn’t eat. “And indeed things have changed. Once when your grandmamma's menu consisted of taking it or leaving it, it now consists of all my favourite foods and now I miss those compulsions.”

“Next day it was Mehendi function and the house was filled with chitter-chatter of cousins and sisters-in-law and after a hectic session of typical bridal Mehendi and the photographs concluded I was craving dinner and all the relatives and cousins and you mami’s were busy in some place or another and the smell was worsening my hunger pangs, I was getting annoyed and I was thinking how the hell am I going to eat with my Mehendi stained hands. Just then one of your mamas came and said relax sis what are brothers for, he lovingly got me a chair and filled my plate with all I wanted to eat and fed me with his hands, when another reality hit me hard – What am I going to do without my on-call-anytime-all-brother-support gang.”

“So Ruhi, now shall we go?” asked Nisha. Ruhi said “no mummy I want to know more about the next day and the next function. What about the actual marriage ceremony.”

“Okay,” said Nisha and proceeded “So next day early morning was pooja and I had gone to the parlour for getting ready. After that I was enjoying myself with friends, family and all when I saw your dada, dadi and other relatives arrive. My heart was thumping so hard I swear it could have been heard miles away. And to ease the stress of morning and the big day the next day we had a gala sangeet night in the evening and had such a rocking time. Everybody you can imagine was dancing like there’s no tomorrow..”

“We returned late at night and I was about to hit the bed when my eyes welled up. This was last night in my house as Miss. Nisha Shah and I were going to miss my huge bed filled with soft toys, my oversize bathroom, my room which was my den and whoosh the sleep vanished. I lay awake for some time staring at the ceiling thinking nothing and then I took a leisure stroll in the whole house sinking in every corner of the place where I spent more than twenty years of my life, knowing that I’ll leave the house by evening but not knowing when will I return back to the comfort of it.”

“But I was very happy getting married to your daddy. Finally, the moment we had been waiting for so many years was coming true. Our dream was coming true. It was the most beautiful wedding ceremony ever. Then came the most dreaded part of the ceremony –The vidai. I did not cry I had vowed that I won’t break down when all of sudden all your maasis came and the group hugged me and we shed tears. No, we did not wail like anything just shed a few tears and hugged and kissed each other knowing that we were going to miss the late-night gossips and pyjama parties and sharing secrets. But I cried a lot on way to our house. I felt lost. New people, new place and wished for a second that time rolls back but one glimpse of your daddy and I was at peace. And now I have you sweetie pie and the best family I could have asked for. I am happy beyond measure”.

As she was telling all this to Ruhi, Nisha felt that this is maybe just a dream and instead of her pestering Ruhi for dinner she soon hear her mother shouting on top of her voice “Nishi are you going to come down now or not!” But then it’s not, is it? It was just the beginning of another beautiful phase of life.

Some part of this story is inspired by my life and some of them are fictionalised. Fictionalised parts are added only to enhance the story.